By: Glenn Pisani
Over the past few months, I’ve met many business owners and property owners and managers who have had a negative experience with their energy supplier. It is widely known that companies located in de-regulated energy states are more often than not better off purchasing their supply of electricity and natural gas from a supplier other than the local utility.
An unfortunate part of the energy business is that many energy brokers will say anything to get new business. In my experience, these lower tier brokers employ numerous unseasoned “salespeople” and many of them won’t be around after the sale. I believe this is the main reason for the negative experiences that I have heard about lately, but I wouldn’t doubt that there are some energy brokers simply looking after their best interests instead of the customer.
The biggest complaint I’ve heard is that contract terms change after the sale. These issues have included: changes to price, term and product type. Some customers have told me that their price changed only 3 months into their contract while others didn’t know what they signed up for. The main reason for these issues is lack of communication. Unfortunately if you don’t get a good referral, you may not know what you’re getting into. The most important feature of a business/energy supplier relationship is the relationship. Too many companies are misled by salespeople who don’t know the energy market or how to recommend the most effective programs. In any given de-regulated area there are only a handful of reputable and worthwhile energy suppliers. Their pricing should all be close and they should recommend multiple programs for a customer to choose from. If an energy supplier approaches you with a price that is substantially lower than the market, they should be questioned thoroughly.
• Did they review multiple programs with you or did they just tell you a price?
• What kind of program is their price for?
• How long is it fixed or is it variable?
• Can it change and if so, how often?
• Did they compare their recommendations to what you are currently doing?
• Do you feel that they are being unbiased?
• Do they seem to be looking for a long term relationship or a quick sale?
• How confident are you of their market knowledge?
If you are uncomfortable in any way, don’t proceed with them. Companies need to understand that energy markets go up and down; there is no one size fits all and price isn’t everything. Alarmingly, many energy companies fall short of stated objectives, provide biased comparisons and lack transparency.
After years of writing articles for a national e-zine as well as many regional newsletters, I have had seen it all. The best advice I can give to companies pursuing alternate energy supply is to ask fellow business owners if they have had a good experience and if they could recommend someone. Otherwise, check with industry associations that you may belong to and ask if there is a vendor recommendation. This should help eliminate some of these problems, but always do your due diligence properly to avoid potential issues.
The Great Eastern Energy difference-
At Great Eastern Energy, we provide commercial energy solutions to manage risk and control costs for increased long term profitability. Every plan is tailored for each customer and their unique needs, goals and resources. We employ only seasoned energy professionals and hedge our energy offerings to maintain stability and integrity. Our service cannot be turned out on an assembly line.
We are a direct supplier of natural gas and electricity. This means more savings passed on to you! Our plans are completely transparent and designed for long term management and mutually beneficial relationships. In addition, we have a dedicated team of energy partners offering services that including: energy audits and benchmarking, co-generation systems, alternative energy programs, lighting design and retrofits and commissioning. We even have in house funding available for lighting retrofits and gas conversions if qualified. These services are available to our customers through a complimentary no obligation analysis to determine if beneficial before proceeding.
Don’t let a negative experience dictate how you manage your business. Energy choice is extremely worthwhile in de-regulated areas if managed properly.
Glenn Pisani can be reached via telephone at (732) 779-6190 direct or via email a glennp@greateasternenergy.com